Russian whistleblower appeals IOC ban from competing in Rio Olympics

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Russian doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova has appealed the International Olympic Committee's decision to not allow her to compete at the Sumer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Stepnova and her husband came forward to reveal evidence of systemic and rampant doping in Russia. They believe the decision is incorrect, which is the same view shared by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Association of Athletics Federation, track and field's governing body. The IAAF recommended that Stepanova should be allowed to compete in Rio.

“It [allowing her to compete] would show an example to the other athletes that may find themselves in a similar situation as I was that it is necessary to say the truth, that one needs to fight the system,” Vitaly Stepanov says. “It would show that if they act with good intentions, they will be listened to and even the IOC will support them.”

The IOC decided against a full ban of Russian athletes in Rio and has instead barred Russian athletes who had previously been caught doping could not be selected. Stepanova served a two-year suspension from February 2013 for abnormalities in her biological passport.

The Russian doping system allegedly forced Stepanova to take performance enhancing drugs such as steroids and EPO, from 2007 to 2012. She never tested positive in any drug tests but that was due to the testing, which was also covered up by Russian officials.

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